Okra Nutrition: 8 Unknown Health Benefits of Okra & How To Use

Health Benefits Of Okra Nutrition

1. Digestive Health

Perhaps the best part of adding okra to your diet is the significant increase it can have on your total fiber intake.

Mucilaginous fiber like you find in okra can help move food through your digestive tract by adding bulk.

This means that bowel movements are more regular and there is a reduction in gastrointestinal issues such as bloating, cramping, constipation, and excess gas.

Oddly, it also helps prevent diarrhea, because it adds bulk to watery stools. Finally, fiber can help to clear out excess cholesterol in the body.

2. Vision Booster

Okra contains a very high content of vitamin A, as well as antioxidant components like beta carotenes, xanthein, and lutein.

Antioxidants are powerful compounds that destroy or neutralize free radicals, which are the dangerous byproducts of cellular metabolism.

Free radicals are responsible for the degreadation of the cells in the body, including those responsible for vision.

With high levels of okra in your diet, you will have more protection for your sight, including macular degeneration and cataracts.

3. Skin Health

Vitamin A antioxidants are also able to protect skin health, by promoting quicker healing, reducing the appearance of scars and acne, and eliminating wrinkles.

This is because the antioxidants are able to neutralize the free radicals which may have damaged those skin cells.

4. Immune System

The various antioxidant components of okra make it very beneficial to fight off free radicals, but the high vitamin C content also means that the general immune system is boosted.

Vitamin C can stimulate the immune system to create more white blood cells.

Which can combat the other foreign pathogens and materials in the body that can compromise the immune system.

5. Blood Pressure and Heart Health

Okra is a good source of both vitamins and minerals, including potassium, which is an essential aspect of human health.

Potassium is necessary to maintain proper fluid balance in the body, because it balances sodium.

Furthermore, potassium helps to relax the blood vessels and arteries, which therefore reduces blood pressure and lessens the strain on the cardiovascular system.

This means that clotting and atherosclerosis will be greatly reduced.

6. Improves Eyesight

Okra is also used to improve eyesight!

Okra pods are fantastic source of vitamin A and beta-carotene.

Which are both important nourishment for sustaining excellent eyesight (along with healthy skin).

Additionally, this nourishment may help inhibit eye-associated illnesses.

7. Good Source of Protein

Okra nutrition benefits are so plentiful that it’s been called the “perfect villager’s vegetable,” with its robust nature, dietary fiber and distinct seed protein balance of both lysine and tryptophan amino acids.

The amino acid composition of okra seed protein is actually comparable to that of soybean — the protein efficiency ratio is higher than that of soybean.

And the amino acid pattern of the protein renders it an adequate supplement to legume- or cereal-based diets.

Indeed, the okra seed is known to be rich in high-quality protein.

Especially with regard to its content of essential amino acids relative to other plant protein sources, making okra one of the top vegetable protein foods out there.

8. Helps Stabilize Blood Sugar

Okra helps stabilize blood sugar by regulating the rate at which sugar is absorbed from the intestinal tract.

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Hello, I'm Dan that’s me above, i have been dedicated to weight training in and out of gyms, also qualified diet nutritionist and certified PT, and i have a combined knowledge of over 10 years.